Businesses in Ulah:

The 1877 History of Henry County listed only two businesses for Ulah; George Becker, dealer in lumber and grain, and postmaster, and Wm. Bowen, a dealer in lumber and grain (The History of Henry County, Illinois, Its Tax-Payers and Voters; containing also, a Biographical Directory; A Condensed History of the State; Map of the County; A Business Directory; An Abstract of Every-day Laws: War Record of Henry County; Officers of Societies, Lodges, etc. etc. 1877. Chicago . H. F. Kett & Co., 15 Lakeside Building . p. 285, 310).

Ulah had a post office for 56 years, beginning June 5, 1868 , five years before the town was platted. The name of the post office was changed to Souders on March 11, 1892 , and reverted to Ulah on April 14, 1914 . The office was closed in November 1924, and the area was added to the Cambridge rural route (Galvaland Magazine, March 1977).

In 1876, William and C. E. Rideout, purchased land from Mr. Morris for the Ulah store. The building stood on the corner of Adams and North streets, according to an article reprinted in Galvaland Magazine from the Moline Dispatch of November, 1941. The building was torn down in 1924 by the last owner, Joe Vinson, and the lumber moved to Kewanee, where it was used to build a house and a small store. The following is a list of names of those who operated the Ulah Store: The Rideouts, Jack Albright, William Bowen, Albert Streed, Victor Nelson, Hugh Sterling, F. A. Gustafson, Frank Palmer, August Engstrom, George Armstrong, and Owen Simpson.

Progress in the form of improved roads, accessibility to stores in larger trading centers and the replacement of the railroad business by trucks, sealed the fate of the old Ulah country store (Galvaland Magazine, April-May, 1977, June 1977). The little country store was more than a place to buy groceries, yard goods and other necessities. It was also a community center, which served as a gathering place for those with leisure hours; where the men sat around the stove on winter days to gossip or discuss current events.

In Galvaland Magazine April-May 1977, George Swank, editor and publisher, writes of reminisces of some of the residents. They recalled the nightly meetings of the young men around the stove, the wrestling matches and feats of strength, the testing of newcomers, and the usual pranks that were played.

Frank Palmer's Store

The Five Ulah Boys

Ulah Boys

Back Row: Second from Left, Charles Smith, Merton Stephens, unknown, unknown.

Middle Row: Unknown, Hallie Stephens, Bill Smith.

Front Row: Unknown, Art Stephens, Unknown.

Information courtesy of Steve Peterson and Dave Stephens

Mr. Chris King was the Ulah coal dealer. Others hauled coal, too, but Chris was by far the most controversial and colorful. He walked a mile and a quarter to his business, because, he was quoted as saying, “By the time I get hitched up or get my car out I can be in the city” (his name for Ulah). His business records were kept in a basket that he carried over his arm. During an outbreak of diphtheria among the children of the area, Mr. and Mrs. King took in the two older children of the Jacob Rogers family, while three others remained at home. The two that the Kings nursed, recovered, but the three at home died from the disease. (Galvaland Magazine, July-August 1977, September 1977)

Contributed by Bonnie Wiley

Illinois Ancestors

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